THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
French Life, Food & Drink... French Village Diaries
by Jacqueline Brown.
The summer months in France are always a great time for browsing the special producers’ markets that you find popping up in addition to the regular weekly ones. The best we have visited this year was the traditional floating market held in Le Vanneau in the Marais Poitevin on the last Saturday morning in July. In addition to the land-‐based stalls selling everything from handmade soaps and linen clothes to saucisson and fresh fruit and vegetables, there were also stalls on the water in the traditional barques. It was the busiest we have seen the Marais Poitevin, which is one of our favourite places to spend a day with the bikes and a picnic, but it was such a good morning out it was worth sharing what is usually a quiet area with the crowds. We came away with the bike panniers bulging with saucisson and goats cheese, including a very strong extra mature goats cheese that was delicious on homemade pizza. The local brewery also had a stall, however buying bottles of beer with the bikes wasn’t practical. A quick chat with the vendor confirmed that the brewery shop in Coulon would be open all day so we could buy some beer when we got back to the car, no problem. We peddled, picnicked and peddled some more, arrived back at the car and then walked over to sample the delights of a locally produced beer. However, the brewery was closed and we were a little disappointed. The problem seemed to be one of a cultural translation as my question ‘are you open all day?’ meaning ‘all day’ was answered with a ‘yes’ meaning ‘all day, but obviously not at lunchtime’. Never mind, it will be something to look forward to next time we are in the area. I like the French way of taking their time over lunch and making it an event rather than a chore, even if for us it will always be our smaller meal of the day. Ed has had school meals in France for the last nine years and has tried a much wider variety of food than he would have done without them. To begin with when he was in Maternelle and a fussier eater, I only gave him a snack in the evenings to encourage him to eat more at school. Now he is almost un-‐fill-‐up-‐able and pretty much eats what he is given, he also manages a meal with us in the evenings too. I do sometimes wonder how he copes during the summer holidays without his school lunch, as I don’t serve him two main meals a day. Now La Rentrée is upon us again I’m sure he will be glad to be back in the canteen tucking into his three courses and chatting to his mates. They do seem to get a good mix of seasonal foods and although sometimes certain things are referred to as ‘disgusting’ at other times seconds are gratefully shared around the table. Bon Appétit
For recipes please email me at frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com or visit www.frenchvillagediaries.com
Page 29